“After the end of the Cold War, Western countries promoted a programme in Europe that could be described as one of moderate yet consistent disarmament. This applied not only to Ukraine, but also to many other Central and Eastern European countries. The rhetoric – backed by funding and symbolic promises – was simple: democracy instead of armies, integration instead of security, soft power instead of military balance.”
"The Battle of Mariupol was a historically unique military operation. And what the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine did with their helicopter missions — that's an even more unique story. They breached enemy air defenses for over 100 kilometers, both on their way in and during their return. From a military standpoint — based on doctrines, field manuals, and considering the conditions and the balance of forces — it was impossible. It was like jumping off a skyscraper and surviving. But they did it."
Azov Has Endured Incredible Trials
Ex-British army soldier was known as an explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, specialist. Garrett ran a makeshift training program for Azov, instructing small batches of Azov troops at a time in how to safely navigate minefields, dismantle booby traps, and handle unexploded ordnance. 
Oleh "Pryzrak" Sovenko is an Azov fighter and a participant in a special helicopter mission flown to Mariupol, a defender of Azovstal, and a former prisoner-of-war. He took part in the liberation of the Kyiv region before volunteering for the mission to Mariupol. On March 25, 2022, he and other service members found themselves in the enemy-surrounded heart of Pryazovia.
Books by Russian "military reporters" serve as valuable artifacts for gathering evidence of Russian war crimes and efforts to justify them. With methodical, cold-blooded precision, these eyewitnesses to historic events distort or reinterpret facts to align with the Kremlin’s narrative, omitting key details essential to understanding the true course of events. This is how Mariupol was wiped out of existence in the spring of 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan "Puhach" Hrishenkov defended Mariupol, endured Russian captivity, and fought in the Serebrianskyi Forest and near Toretsk. This gentle giant has remained outside the media spotlight, but his story is nothing short of incredible.
On April 15, 2025, the legendary Azov announced a major expansion:
Due to widespread censorship in Russia, we only hear about cases where people supporting Ukraine are detained by Russian special services. Media reports have documented numerous criminal cases against Russian citizens. 
March 27, 2025 
On March 26, 2025, captive fighters from the Azov Brigade were unlawfully convicted in Rostov-on-Don. 12 service members were sentenced to 13–23 years in a maximum-security colony. 